CONCERT BLAST 10/05 – 10/11

Sorry for the few hour delay in getting this out to you, but we were getting internet installed at the new SUPERGOODMUSIC offices. I think you’ll find that this update is particularly rich. Lots of music listings, lots of awesome pictures and a serious notice to all music lovers that October 7th at Dakota Lounge is going to be some of the tastiest music you can find (Foster & The People, Odd Modern and Schpilkas).

Anyhow, last week was an incredible week of music in LA, at least by my standards. I saw many great acts, a handful of them whom are up and coming – and almost everyone I saw delivered something memorable.

September went out with a bang, first with Saint Motel on Monday night at their final performance of their Spaceland residency. The theme of the night was slasher and the band was decked with fake (or real?) blood and slashed clothing; the stage and bar were also thematically dressed. The band riffled through cuts from their new EP “For Play” and also played some new material. The night’s rendition of “Dear Dictator” felt arranged in a slightly different way that I thought highlighted the guitar play a little more than the songs’ great rhythmic drive. Nonetheless Dak and Greg were totally on fire (along with A/J and A Sharp). You can catch them in early November at The Roxy for a very special Black and White Film Affair. Tickets are on sale for the event now – just check the Roxy’s site here.

Tuesday brought me to Cinespace for the always fresh DIMMAKTuesday party. I bumped into Mark Foster, the indie-soul crooner who is about to show LA just how dope he is on Wednesday at Dakota Live Music Lounge, before going into the venue and we got into a crazy discussion about vintage cars with some of those awesome DIMMAK doormen. When we got inside, we boogied to some DJs before heading to the backroom to check on Wallpaper.Wallpaper, whom I hadn’t heard much about, whipped out a coupleof covers – including a smoking rendition of Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It.” The band was also clad in matching 80s-esque outfits (gangsta gold chains included) and playing some of their tunes from their new album Doo Doo Face. While I enjoyed the nostalgia and the bands stage antics, the awkward, poorly timed, most likely a joke freestyle that came at the end of the early 90s tribute should be avoided next time in my opinion. That said, Wallpaper. certainly didn’t disappoint.

Wednesday closed out the month – and thanks to the one and only J-Brains, better known as Justin Bain, I found myself at the El Rey forDataRock. I had the pleasure of seeing the show with rising pop artistKat Danson, who should be on your radar if she isn’t already. The show wasn’t jam packed, but it was a lot of fun. The visuals were pretty awesome – with the media men switching off between cartoon renditions of the band members to real footage. The stage play and energy was great – especially the drummer who appeared to be spanking his high hat at BPMs exceeding 200. To top it all off, they waxed poetic about the 80s and brought up a member of Devo.

October started off rough – both cause the move happened and cause I didn’t get to see the shows I was anticipating seeing. Thursday I regrettably did not get out to see music because Warren G was cancelled Thanks for trying to make it happen The Roxy and Warren G, we hope you’re alright.

Friday I wanted to go see Thom Yorke with Flea and the rest of his new troop at the secret show at Echoplex. Tickets went on sale on Friday at noon, and while I was all prepared at my computer to pick up some tickets, the overwhelming number of people trying to get tickets froze me out on all 3 of the computers SUPERGOODMUSIC was working on. Given the high amount of demand for the tickets, SGM regretably didn’t get any guest list love either. All in all, the failure in getting tickets soured my attitude for going out to see music and I resolved to drowned my disappointment in tall boy PBRs.

Saturday, brought us to Eagle Rock Music Festival. The free event was home to the quintessential LA indie hipster crowd, swarms of teenagers who were happy to be at a free all ages event and a handsome showing of the 30 something families that have taken over Eagle Rock. Arriving at doors looked like a ghost-town on a movie set, but by about 6 pm the crowd had really filled out. I spent most of my time at the Ship Stage to see some upcoming artists – including The Amateurs, Alaskan Summer, Nico Stai and one of my favorites, The French Semester – who played some new material for a substantial crowd of toe-tappers and shoe-gazers. Those indie bands kept the crowd moving, especially the adorable kids who were beating the pavement and seemingly having the time of their young lives. You can check out a few brief video clips that were posted over at Big Things on Fire, including a brief one of The French Semester.

Sunday delivered one of the better shows I’ve seen recently with Jack Penate and Miike Snowat Echoplex. While it was not the sold out sweat box I expected to be (it was sold out, just not a sweatbox), the performance was everything that I expected and then some. First, I had no idea of Jack Penate’s multiple talents. He knows how to carry his voice on stage and, while the crowd seemed to grow considerably for Miike Snow, it was clear that people were taking notice of JP. What JP didn’t have in beatplay, Miike Snow more than made up for. Of course the crowd went crazy for “Animal”, but the SGM crew was particularly impressed with the lengthy and unique version of Silvia (it was like 10 minutes). Hopefully we get a similarly spectacular performance from them on Tuesday in Costa Mesa!

As usual, you will find this weeks listing of shows to your right and my specific recommendations below. If a show is in bold, it means, for some reason or another, I am suggesting you check out their performance. Maybe they’ve got great stage presence, maybe their single is going to be the next big thing, maybe they just do something crazy and ridiculous that you don’t see other bands do? If I’ve bolded it and discussed it in my recommendations, than there is a good chance that I will be at the show or some other SUPERGOODMUSIC representative will be there.

Dance. Let’s Shout. Shake our bodies down to the ground….

Brandon “Boom D” DorskyFounder, SUPERGOODMUSIC

Come out on Wednesday night and support the westside music scene as well as some of LA’s best rising young artists.

The talented Mark Fosterwill be joined by his new band for the first ever performance of Foster & The People. Word on the street is that producer, and Minnesota native, Reazon is going to make an appearance during their show and bring some of his creative beat skills to the stage.

After The People, Odd Modern, a funky indie synth electronic pop duo from the east side will be putting their stamp on Dakota. Their performance is seriously enhanced by the drum synched lights show that accompanies it. It sort of has to be seen to be witnessed and their track “Tipsy Dancer” will certainly make you want to have a Rum & Coke, maybe even chased by rum shots…

Last to perform will be the funky DJ Schpilkas. Spinning an eclectic mix of the greatest music only half of you will have heard of, he’ll open your ears to the new, the hip, the dope and the obscure. You’ll be overwhelmed with his dopeness you may just clear all of that schpilkas out of your genectigazoink.

If all that is not enough to get your ass out the door and into Dakota Live Music Lounge – the SUPERGOODMUSIC crew will be there to make it worth your while

Tonight there are many rising artists worth checking out. On the westside, you’ve got the hustler with the fur in his cap, Rob Roy, representing for Dub Frequency at Hunnypot Unlimited. You will find me there, along with the other cool Hunnypot staples. Midtown, at Molly Malones, the talented Gustavo Galindo will be singing and plucking before Mitch Allan & Guests take the stage. On the east side,Correatown is kicking off their residency at Echo with their whole indie posse.

For those who are scalpers, could afford a scalped ticket or just fortunately got through to the website, Thom Yorke is playing a show with his newly formed band at Orpheum Theater.

TUESDAY

I was so impressed with Miike Snow last night that I am swinging down to Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa to see them perform again. It is a no brainer decision for me – the vibe was just intoxicating. I jumped on the opportunity despite really wanting to go see Lotus and Break Science(feat. Adam Deitch) at The Roxy on the “Pay What You Want” tour. I’m not claiming you can get in for free – but the whole “Pay What You Want” concept is like the Radiohead model of concert going. If you’ve got the time you should definitely go check it out – Break Science’s Adam Deitch is one of the best drummers around.

The Breakestra, a great live funk band, will be celebrating their record release at El Rey along with DJ Jeremy Sole and some other spinners of funk.

WEDNESDAY

Of course SUPERGOODMUSIC will be at SUPERGOODMUSIC Presents: Foster & The People, Odd Modernand Magic on Wax by Schpilkas at the Dakota Live Music Lounge. We’ll be there because, not only are we hosting the event, but it will be the best available music in town on humpday bar-none (Jack Penate & Miike Snow will probably put up a good fight at their sold out show at Spaceland…but, unless you have a ticket, that’s not really available music).

Get there before 9:30 and its $5. Get there after 9:30 and you’ll be sad you weren’t there to hear all of Foster & The People’s set. See all your pretty faces there!

THURSDAY

RCA will undoubtedly be amped for Kesha‘s performance on Thursday – and the SUPERGOODMUSIC crew will be there to show support too. Although Boom Bip dropped off the ball, with Har Mar Superstar and the recent addition of Brother Reade, Echo kept the ticket pretty hot. If you like funky spunky pop or you like being sprayed with glitter, Kesha just might be the act for you.

Of course, there will be plenty of other music to check out. From the jammier side of things, ALO’s Zach Gill will be playing at The Mint along with String Cheese Incident’s Kyle Hollingsworth. Also, Eric McFadden Trio will be hitting up Genghis Cohen for an intimate performance. On the indie tip, The Cartographers, another rising artist, will be performing at the John Hughes Tribute Show at The Viper Room…so break out your best Pretty In Pink or Breakfast Club like outfit and dance your ass off on Sunset Blvd.

On FRIDAY, a really tough decision is going to have to be made. The always amazing Stanton Moore (Galactic, Garage A Trois) will be playing with The Funky Meters Leo Neocentelli at The Mint for what is sure to be some gritty New Orleans flavored funk. While I doubt the musicianship will be better anywhere else in town, I’m not sure I can pass up an opportunity to go catch Chromeo’s DJ set at Club 740. I am just loving Chromeo‘s new song “Night By Night” and would love to hear the record spun at a club.

Elsewhere, good options include – Fool’s Gold, Metronomy and Destructo who will be rocking out The Roxy;Groundation will be reggaefying the Key Club and Steve Earle and Tom Morello & The Nightwatchmen kick off their 3 day run at the Troubadour.

SATURDAY

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe returns to LA (their guitarist, Brian Jordan, used to live in West LA) and brings their live funk party to The Mint. I will be there because Denson, who plays sax for The Greyboy All-Stars, KDTU and Lenny Kravitz, is not only an exceptional musician but a really, really nice guy. Having spent time with him in the past, I would never miss an opportunity to see him tear the roof off of a venue, let alone a small room like The Mint. If you love alto sex, tenor sex or even flute – then you should not miss this show.

If it ends early, maybe there will be a trip to Funky Sole for some free funk at the Echo.

If funk isn’t your thing – Jason Mraz, G. Love & Special Sauce and Brett Dennen are playing at the Hollywood Bowl.

SUNDAY

Haven’t decided where to head yet, but Tom Morello & The Nighwatchmen is high on my list of acts to see. As they will be closing their 3 day Troub run, it might be the perfect night to go. Alternatively, just North on Sunset Blvd. – Rockstar Karaoke will be benefitting a good cause at The Roxy and People Under The Stairs will bring their dope-hop to Key Club.

Bring on the funk, bring on the noise and bring your ass to Dakota Live Music Lounge on Wednesday or you will regret it.

Totally 80s Party Pictures – The Full Dosage

So, we have officially relocated, albeit just 3.5 blocks away from the old digs. While we’ll have to rock out strong in the new place, and undoubtedly we will…I’m still thrilled with the turn out from last week and the pictures only solidify the great time that was had. CHECK EM OUT….